Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling CHAPTER 15 Objectives After studying this chapter, you will be able to: Explain the ozone depletion problem. Recognize CFCs, HCFCs, and HFCs. Comply with the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act. State equipment and technician certification requirements. Use recovery cylinders properly and safely. Recognize recovery and recycle equipment. Properly perform recovery and recycle procedures. Important Terms active recovery atmospheric balancing capture Clean Air Act (CAA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA certification global warming global warming potential (GWP) hazardous waste low-loss fitting Montreal Protocol motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC) ozone depletion potential (ODP) passive recovery pumpdown reclaim recover recovery cylinder recycle R&R system venting 15.1 Ozone Depletion In recent years, much concern has been raised about chlorine-fluorine-carbon compounds (CFCs) and the damage they do to the earth’s atmosphere (ozone depletion). The stratosphere is the part of the atmosphere extending 10 miles to 30 miles (16 km to 48 km) above the earth’s surface. The ozone layer is an essential part of the stratosphere and serves as the earth’s security blanket, completely surrounding the planet and blocking harmful solar radiation. See Figure 15-1. Ozone is a very reactive form of oxygen. It is a blue, irritating gas with a pungent odor. An ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms (O3). While it is a naturally-occurring, beneficial component of the upper atmosphere (keeping most of the sun’s harmful radiation from reaching the Ozone Ozone Ozone Ozone Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 15-1. Chlorine, a chemical element in many refrigerants, is the primary culprit in damaging the atmosphere’s ozone layer. 259 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
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